10 American-Made Products

Find out which of your favorite items are made in the U.S.A.

By Mallory Pladus

Plenty of people talk about what America is made of, but here’s an important question: What is America making? In our international economy, the list of companies and products that are entirely homegrown falls comparatively short to the days of yore. Not everyone’s gone global, though; some American companies are still manufacturing here at home. Cue Springsteen: These 10 businesses all have products born in the U.S.A.

Burt’s Bees

Burt Shavitz started out in the 1980s selling honey from the back of his truck. Now the company makes all-natural personal care products for face, hair, body and baby (like Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream and Garden Tomato Complexion Soap). But what’s so buzz-worthy about Burt’s Bees? Not only are their products and packaging entirely eco-friendly, but they’re all-American too. The company makes all of their goods—down to every cool, pepperminty lip balm—in the U.S., and 95 percent of them in Durham, North Carolina. Photo courtesy of BurtsBees.com.

KitchenAid

An iconic image of American domesticity, the KitchenAid stand mixer first appeared in 1919 (and was made available in Petal Pink, Sunny Yellow and other classic hues beginning in 1955). Ninety-one years later the company still makes a majority of its mixers and blenders in Greenville, Ohio, now with 16 different models and many more colors to choose from (feeling Cornflower Blue?). Countertops all over the country would look a little less American without them. Photo courtesy of KitchenAid.com.

Steinway & Sons

This soundly patriotic company is based in Long Island City, New York, where it’s been making pianos since 1853 when founded by the German immigrant Henry Engelhard Steinway. Pianists continue to trust the quality craftsmanship of the brand, and the production time testifies to it: It takes up to a year to make a Steinway instrument. Photo courtesy of Steinway.com.

American Apparel

What’s in a name? As implied, American Apparel performs all levels of production, including dyeing, cutting and sewing, at the company’s facilities in Los Angeles. The retailer—which famously made basics trendy (think jersey tees and tank tops)—has stores across the world, so even international buyers can get their T-shirts and leggings made in the U.S.A. Photo courtesy of AmericanApparel.net.

Longaberger

Longaberger baskets are handmade in America. Each basket—designed for picnicking, party hosting, decorating, pie carrying and more—is made in Frazeysburg, Ohio, and signed and dated by its craftsman. The company has woven American culture into its signature product with holiday, seasonal and patriotic styles available, along with a new Team Spirit collection, for college, pro sports and basket fans alike. Photo courtesy of Longaberger.com.

Crane & Co.

This paper company dates back seven generations to before the American Revolution, making it older than America itself. Still owned and managed by the Crane family, Crane & Co. manufactures its paper products in Wisconsin and Massachusetts. Their tree-free, cotton paper has been “green” for over 200 years. Greener yet, Crane paper has been used for U.S. currency since 1879. Photo courtesy of Crane.com.

Hillerich & Bradsby Company

Last year, the sporting goods company celebrated the 125th birthday of its most popular product: the Louisville Slugger. The legendary bat has been gripped by some of the biggest names in baseball, including Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron. America’s favorite pastime continues to turn to the Slugger (at least 60 percent of Major League ball players use the famous bat), and the company continues to turn out its product on the home turf. Hillerich & Bradsby even owns land in Pennsylvania and New York to acquire U.S.-based lumber for their equipment. Photo courtesy of Slugger.com.

Yankee Candle Company

American down to its brand name, this well-known candlemaker designs, develops, tests and produces a majority of its products in Western Massachusetts’ (aptly named) Pioneer Valley. The company began in 1969, when Mike Kittredge melted down crayons to make his mother a candle, the only Christmas present he could afford. Kittredge has come a long way since; today the company features over 150 fragrances and holds the title of America’s top selling candle brand. Photo courtesy of YankeeCandle.com.

Silly Putty

Still made in its home country, Silly Putty was invented during World War II when scientist James Wright was working to create a synthetic substitute for rubber. In 1949, “bouncing putty” found its way into the hands of a toy store owner, and its potential for stretching, bouncing, winding, twisting and endless fun was born. Silly Putty exercised its patriotic duty in 1968 when it traveled to the moon on Apollo 8 to help the astronauts stabilize their tools in the absence of gravity. Photo courtesy of SillyPutty.com.

Vermont Teddy Bear Company

In the 1980s John Sortino formed this American teddy bear manufacturing company after seeing that so many of his son’s toys were foreign-made (“Teddy” does, after all, bear the name of a U.S. president). Today, the company thrives on its Bear-Grams, which ship the bear of your choice along with gourmet candy and a greeting card, so you can give a bear hug from anywhere. Photo courtesy of VermontTeddyBear.com.

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